A Knitting BFF

- A KBFF orders the perfect yarn for a joint project and won't let you pay for it.

- A KBFF understands the need to stay up until 1am to "just finish this section", and generally encourages such madness.

- A KBFF will text you from the wool shop saying "They have quiviut, get in here!", then try to hide the colours you like from other customers.

- A KBFF thinks thirteen unfinished projects is normal and nothing compared to her list.

- A KBFF has seen your Ravelry queue and thinks you're mad. Except for every project on page 3. They're all pretty doable.

- A KBFF knows there will never be enough 4mm needles, even though you own 23 4mm double points.  Including the horrible-tasting casein ones.

My BFF cowl. Sundara Yarn Aran Silky Merino. Purple bobbles by Chantal, green seedpod by me. Best. Idea. EVER.

Sleeves and safety pins

I was knitting on the sleeves of Marcus' "Too big for now, in a few years fine" jacket when I decided to measure them. They were 34cm. This is 1cm past where the shaping begins, but the main point is that the eternal sleeves are almost done. Huzzah!

Sleeves are my least favourite part of knitting a jumper/cardigan/anything upper body related. I was taught that a good knitter knits both sleeves at the same time, to get perfect matching tension. It's pretty easy: you simply cast on both sleeves onto the one needle using two balls of yarn and have at it. The only time you can go wrong is if you stop halfway through a row and can't remember which sleeve you were working on, or which way you are going. Don't laugh, this can happen to anyone.

Instead, I've come up with my own solution to such a problem, the ever so humble safety pin. Just pin the two sleeves together in the center and work away, constantly moving the pin upwards as you knit.

Oh, safety pin, is there any knitting dilemma you cannot assist in?

A bad blue idea

I think I'll write an essay: "Things You Should Never Do While Knitting Lace."

Today's effort? Two cans of Red Bull Blue.

Shaking hands and 1.5mm needles are a bad match.

Good idea, bad idea

I slacked off on my work last week and spent some couch time reading "The Cuckoo's Calling" by JK Rowling Robert Galbraith. Nice old-fashioned murder mystery, I suspect good old JK is an Agatha Christie fan. Unfortunately, I have a very big problem when I read books: I bite my nails. Badly. Very very badly.

On Thursday, when washing my hands made the remaining nubs of my fingernails sting I knew I had to do something. So my brilliant idea was to buy some cheap stick on nails to wear for a few weeks, until the worst of it all was over.

Brilliant. Genius.

 Knitting lace with these talons is close to impossible.

(Apologies for the web cam. I managed to break my phone screen again...)

O'erweening confidence

Once again the knitting smugness has been knocked out of me.

I compared Part A and Part B of the BFF that Chantal and I are knitting together.  The two parts should finish up the same length.

If you need me I'll be knitting my fingers off to make these the same length by tomorrow night.

Instructions are VERY important

I started a little jacket in Jet for Marcus a while ago from this book:

I'm making the all one colour version of the jacket. As usual,  I photocopied the instructions and circled the third size, being size 4. It was only after I couldn't find the photocopy that I pulled the book out and discovered the ultimate stuff up.

The third size isn't a size 4. I assumed the sizes were 2-3-4 etc, but they're not.

*sigh* At least Marcus will be warm in two years time.

PSA for customers

If you hand over your heirloom crochet blanket to be repaired and you haven't washed it for a while,  could you please warn me?

Otherwise I may swear in shock when I wash it.

As for the weekend,  adore my baby. Dorothy turned 2 and was given too many presents, including this outfit. She really is edible.